East Bengal, Mohun Bagan soften stance against AIFF; ready to participate in meeting at AFC headquarters

Less than a week after threatening to disrupt the Indian Super League (ISL), East Bengal and Mohun Bagan today budged from their stance as drama prevailed over the Big Two's induction into the lucrative franchise tournament.

In a volte-face, East Bengal have now confirmed their participation in the stakeholders meeting at AFC headquarters to discuss Indian football's roadmap.

Mohun Bagan are expected to follow suit after another round of joint meeting at Netaji Indoor Stadium with state body Indian Football Association and West Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas.

Maintaining their demand to waive franchise fee and seeking fund from central pool, the two rival clubs on May 27 had echoed "no Mohun Bagan, East Bengal no ISL", and had threatened to boycott the June 7 meeting if AIFF did not respond.

But two days after IFA shot off a letter to the AIFF, the two rival clubs have mysteriously started to toe the line. Blaming the media, East Bengal general secretary Kalyan Majumdar in a stunning volte-face said: "We never said East Bengal would not attend the meeting. We have an invitation and we are definitely going."

His Mohun Bagan counter part Anjan Mitra, known for his softspoken and amiable quality, however, chose to be guarded." We will have a meeting with East Bengal, IFA and sports minister and then will decide," Mitra said.